Cullom (population 563) is located in upper-eastern Illinois about 20 miles east of Pontiac. This
places Cullom in the east-central portion of Livingston County. The main roadway taking you to and from Cullom is Illinois
Route 116. The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad owns tracks that travel through Cullom. A branch of the North Fork
of the Vermillion River flows through the east side of town as well.

The history of Cullom is in need of research. We understand that Cullom began an
educational system for its students in 1857 at a private home in Sullivan Township, which is where Cullom is located
in the county. A high school curriculum was established by the late 1800's as a two-year extension of the grade
school. The first high school, called Sullivan Township High School, existed for one year only from 1916-17, but was
declared invalid because taxes were not paid and teachers were not compensated for their services. However, eight people did
graduate that year.

The Cullom Community High School district was formed in 1929 and operated until its closure in 1968 when
it merged with Kempton-Cabery and the Emington Community school district to form the Tri-Point school district.

Cullom HS Building 2012

Now Utilized as Part of Cullom Tri-Point High School

Cullom Community High School - Early 1900s

Courtesy of Gerald Buckler

Gerald Buckler provided us with information he obtained from a 1961 Cullom High School
yearbook. This year book lists graduates of Cullom High School beginning in 1900. This would indicate that the
Cullom school district began offering some sort of high school curriculum at least by the year 1898. Number of students
listed as graduating, by year of graduation, are also found in the yearbook. The numbers are as follows:

Gerald tells us that "classes pretty much ran between 15
and 25 thru the rest of the 1961 Yearbook Record. No one was listed as killed or missing in WWI. Wilmer
Aellig, Class of 1941 was the only one listed as killed in action during WWII."

Our good fan Scott Gleeson provided some excellent
research and found that the consolidation effort took place prior to the start of the school year of 1968. Scott
goes on to tell us that:

"In the first yearbook of Tri-Point HS, a saying sticks out that states "in unity there is strength."
In unity, the Tri-Point School District has lasted through the years even to today. Basketball games and volleyball games
are sensational at Tri-Point as it is a small-town atmosphere at its best. The gym is small and the fans sit nearly
on top of you as you play. I really enjoy the small town atmosphere and the great pride and emotion this
atmosphere brings to athletics that comes from each community involved."

Cullom Tri-Point High School Facility - 2012

The high school for the Tri-Point District was located in Cullom. Royal Duncan tells
us that the Tri-Point school District continues to utilize the Cullom High School building today. Additions were made
to the original Cullom High School building in 1935 and 1956. The Tri-Point District is still going strong.

Cullom High School Quick Facts

First school opened:
1857

Two-year HS classes began:
1898

Year opened as Sullivan Township. HS: 1916

Formation of Cullom Community HS: 1929

Year closed:
1968

Consolidated to:
Tri-Point School District (Cullom)

Cullom HS team nickname: "Ramblers"

Team colors:
Blue & White

School Fight Song:
"Cullom Loyalty"

Provided by Gerald Buckler

When our dear Cullom High boys fall in line,

We're going to win again another time

For C.C.H.S. standards and its name

Its honor and true sportsmanship

We'll win the game.

So let us fight, fight, fight for every gain

And
put our school right in the Hall of Fame

We'll do our best when put to every test,

Yes our Best!!!

RAH! RAH! RAH!

Seeking a Yearbook

I am trying to obtain either a 1990 or 1989 yearbook from Tri-Point
High School. I'm sorry for the intrusion, but I'm wondering if you might be able to help?

We know there was boys' basketball and football in the Cullom Rambler program. We are confident
track and baseball were offered. The Ramblers competed in the Vermillion Valley Conference, and was one of the founding
members of the organization that originally featured schools eastern Livingston County.

Cullom Ramblers Basketball Team of 1952-53

Courtesy of Gerald Buckler

Boys Basketball

One thing is for certain, Cullom High School had a great measure of success in their area for boys basketball. A
total of EIGHT Distirct titles were won at Cullom High. Five were won in the 1940's, three in the 1950's! There
had to be some great team records and great coaches who made this possible; however, we do not have this information at this
time. Several scores involving Cullom HS in the IHSA Tournament were located on a site titled Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores". These games are listed below.

The photo to your right is of the Cullom Ramblers of 1952-53. This team had an overall record of 20-11, won the Vermilion
Valley Conference Tourney, District title, and advanced to the semi-finals of the Regional. Members of the team as pictured
to the right include:

**Final season as Cullom High School. Became Cullom Tri-Point
High School in the Fall of 1968.

Cullom HS Ramblers 9 - 0 Football Team of 1949-50

Courtesy of Gerald Buckler

Football

Some of the better Cullom High football seasons are listed below. Thanks to Tom Sikorski
for providing the 1958-1966 records.

Gerald Buckler offered us the information on the incredible run of Coach Kelly
Cox' gridiron warriors of 1948-49 and 1949-50. Consecutive undefeated seasons and a cummulative record
of 17-0-1 provided one of the highlights of the Cullom High School football program.

Members of the 1949 squad, pictured above and to your right, are listed in the following order:

**Royal Duncan tells us that Cullom also had a football team as early as 1920. They were known as the
Cullom Independents!

**Linda Hess conducted research that revealed the Cullom High School football team defeated Plano
High School in 1930, the score was 6 - 0.

Baseball

As early as 1898 the boys of Cullom High School paticipated in the sport of baseball. Even after Cullom High School merged
to form Tri-Point High School the folks of Cullom continued to participate in baseball by forming a team known as the Cullom
Prairie Dogs. This information came to us from former Cullom resident Royal Duncan.

If you have any futher information about the Cullom baseball progam please forward it to us for inclusion on this site.

Track & Field

The Cullom boys competed in track as well. In fact, the boys of 1936 won the Vermilion Valley Conference Track Meet!

1936 VVC Meet Champions

Cullom HS All-Girl Orchestra of 1951-52

Courtesy of Gerald Buckler

Extra-Curricular Activities

Cullom High School had many more activities to offer other than boys sports. Pictured to your right
is what may very well be Illinois high school's first ever "All-Girl Orchestra".

Our good firiend and big fan of Cullom High School history, Gerald Buckler, had
this information to offer about the CHS All-Girls Orchestra, who made an impact throughout the state:

"Attached is a picture and names of what I remember to be The FIRST ALL-GIRL'S ORCHESTRA in
the State of Illinois High Schools. They played at several schools in the State of Illinois and also played
at the Palmer House in Chicago. They played a lot of the old standards from the big band era. Mrs. Dowse,
the director, also directed the High School Band and taught chemistry. She was a great innovator and way ahead of her
time. This was the 1951-52 School Year."

Memories and Information

**From Amy Steidinger:

"We were looking at your website today and were very impressed at the information available. I
work at the high school in Cullom, IL which is now Tri-Point
High School. The entire upstairs Is filled
with framed copies of the class pictures from each year. I wanted to let you know that I am here and they are available if anyone is interested in information from Cullom, Illinois. Thanks for all
your hard work archiving the good old days!"

**More great info provided by Amy
Steidinger:

From a book titled "A
Livingston County Scrapbook?” produced by Lucile Goodrich, County Superintendent of Schools
in 1971

“Cullom’s
school addition is under way. $185,000 voted at a special election in May 1954 built the east part of the present building.
The addition to house the homemaking room, music room, and three classrooms, an agriculture shop and industrial arts
shop was completed durin the tenure of Mr. O. H. Roll. Mr. Orville Roll retired from
his position as head of the Cullom schools in 1962, after 33 years of service. When he came to Cullom in 1929, the high
school had 65 students. The enrollment was as high as 120 during his tenure and the territory grew from 8 sections to
70. For 15 years after coming, he coached all sport in the high school. He was one of the organizers of the Vermillion
Valley Conference and had officiated throughout Central Illinois in basketball, football, and track events. He was known
affectionately as “Prof.” Third generation students were serving on his board off education when he retired.
He died in 1968. In 1972 Cullom, now a part of Tri-Point, voted to close Cabery elementary building and ran into a storm
of protest, but went ahead nevertheless to do what they considered best.”

**From
Kathleen Irwin:

"I have come across an old
photograph of the graduating class of Cullom High School, 1903. It was in a box
at an antique shop along with a few other photos relating to one of the young
men in the graduating class photo. The matte frame is stamped "Stevens - Gratsworth, Ill."

Cullom High School Class of 1903

Submitted by Kathleen Irwin

Front row:M.G. Barnhart, Ethel Shearer

Back
row:George Kingdom. Henry
Opperman, William Donahue.

If You Have ANY Information...

...regarding the basketball, and any other success, at Cullom High School,
especially a photo of the original high school building, please write to us via
e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us via USPS at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631

Cullom Prairie Dogs Baseball Team 1890s

Submitted by Julia Fields

From Julia Fields regarding the photo above:

"I purchased some original cabinet photos from the 1890s from Cullom ILL,
at an estate sale in Amarillo TX. Most of the photos I have are from The Kingdon
family. This family had relatives on the baseball team, the photo has names
written on photo."